lining up the ball

[imtomtomim]

Hey everyone,

Recently, my putting had been off and I was just going through the usual methods of research and I decided maybe, I should try using the line on the ball again. It never really worked for me the first time around and I thought it was silly because my perception would be a bit off. Now, I tried it again and getting my read done first actually contributed to me making many many more putts. I found that I needed to have a read and a line that I can't compromise mid putt and just trusting where that ball is pointed helped me a lot.

How many of you use the line on the ball to align your putts before you set up to it?

[PiKapp23]

I've always found the line to be distracting to me. When I line the ball up I put the company side stamps on the sides and the model stamp pointing at the hole/line-of-putt, but everything is turned so I can not see them when I address the ball. The problem I have with using a line or one of the stamps to line up ball is that my eyes tend to focus on that instead of thinking about line of the putt and the speed (I used to have the same problem in fairways where if I saw anything on the ball my eyes locked on it and I ended up hitting almost everything thin).

[Doctorfro]

Long before everyone got into the line on the ball, I used to simply aim the words/logo. It's not necessarily mega-accurate but it helps. So does the line on the ball.

[Cody]

My golf coach made us use it and i didn't feel it helped. I normally dont use it unless my putting is really really falling apart.

[Three Putt]

I never use the lines on the ball, I can never line them up right and think too much about it.

I pick something in the green about 6 inches to a foot in front of the ball, stand behing the ball and line up the putter perpendicular to the ball then swing around to the ball and line up with the putter in the normal putting stance.

[Prairie Golfer]

I've never bothered with it. If I'm playing as a single, you'll never see me pick the ball up until it's holed out.

[shakogolfer78]

I always line it up and I have found that it has helped me tremendously. It helps with my 2 ball becasue that doesn't a line on it.

[pjsnyc]

...How many of you use the line on the ball to align your putts before you set up to it?

:Raises Hand:

I use it on every putt - line up the putt the way you want it then forget about the breaks in the putt (after all its the speed that dictates the line anyway). Helps me focus more on making a solid strike.

[Stacey_E]

I'm kinda a feel player/putter. I have tried the line on the ball. But often times I would get over the ball and just "feel" it needed to be a little more right or left. Rather than re-spot the ball and go through my whole preshot routine, I just vaguely point the factory stamped line in the general direction, then ignore it and focus on my intermediate target and pace.

[Lefty22]

:Raises Hand:

+1: it removes a variable from the equation leaving you free to focus on the speed of the putt. Helps me a lot...

[bruce]

I always use the line,i know exactly where i am aiming once i square up to it.